Residential wood combustion is a major source of PM2.5 and BC emissions. In general, older technologies give higher emissions than modern. Poor combustion increases emission levels significantly. Scenarios using the new emission factors show that reduced emissions can be achieved by modern technologies and improved user skills in operating the combustion equipment. Full realization of a modelled technical SLCP reduction strategy in 2030 in the Nordic countries, covering all SLCP sources, would save 60 000 life years in Europe and reduce the climate impact by 14 million tons CO2 eq.
This policy brief presents a summary of results and highlights from four reports produced in a project to improve the Nordic emission inventories of SLCP. The brief cover results from a measurement program that provided SLCP and PM2.5 emission factors for typical Nordic residential biomass combustion technologies, it covers emission scenarios and efficient measures to reduce emissions of SLCPs beyond current projections and presents results from estimating the potential for reducing the health and climate impact of residential biomass combustion.